Introduction
Public administration revolves around a complex set of correlated ideologies that surmise public administration. Part of the public administration includes the implementation of state policies and public governance. This report focuses on the functioning of public administration with a particular interest in public management and leadership. Various reforms and transformations in the public administration have impacted on the leadership and management of public offices. Extensive research studies have been done on public administration and management in providing an insight on transparency and efficiency. Challenges in public management and leadership have resulted in the enactment of reforms in the administration systems. Additionally, the report elucidates on different management and leadership styles that have been implemented by state governments in ensuring adequate public service provision. The methodological approach of the report entails a review of different secondary materials that are bundled in the literature review and analysis. Firstly, the report looks at the background of public administration, reviews literature based on Bulgaria as the subject. Finally the paper delves into analysis, findings, and conclusion of the report.
Background
Leadership and management of the public sector have undergone constant transformations in the current globalization environment. The roles and responsibilities of public managers have also increased and become more challenging. New leadership and management practices in the public administration have shifted the primary goal and objective to result oriented from following directives. Comprehensive roles and functions of the state have substantively undergone various reforms because of the complex, unstable, and multifaceted nature of the work environment (Jamil, Askvik, & Hossain, 2015). A well-functioning public administration has a large impact and implication on the state government democracy and efficiency in operations. The major hurdle remains to be how to adjust to the prevailing unpredictability of the system and overcome demands pertaining leadership skills.
The modern world has gone through myriad social and technological transition that has significantly affected the management of the public sector. State governments have also enacted reforms in the system to ensure a smooth transition of democratic structures. Changes in reforms and management practices can no longer take the traditional and authoritarian approaches rather seek expertise, participation, and result oriented. The efficiency of an organization is attributed to the competency, and expertise of its people. As a result, public managers need to be selected and recruited based on proficiency, and skillset of candidates. Public managers have been charged with a wide array of responsibilities in the provision of public services. On the other hand, a collaborative approach and partnership with the community helps in enhancing service delivery (Liebert, Condrey, & Gonch, 2010). For this reason, public administration reforms are aimed at de-bureaucratization and the decentralization process must go hand in hand with the new management and leadership techniques of transparency and accountability.
Literature review
Leadership has a crucial part to participate in the implementation and enactment of new public reforms since the key aspects of reforms are change and people. A change in an organization means changing the behavior of people. Therefore, an organization undergoing transformation requires strong leadership. Public organizations need a strategic leadership that is focused on constructive and effective management practice. An excellent leadership is manifested through empowerment, communicating vision, building trust, and effective management of performance. Strategic Leadership entails the ability to identify and seize an opportunity in capacity building, anticipate a constraint and initiate plans to deal with the crisis.
Bulgaria is going through a rapid transformation period in the public administration by seeking new leadership in government positions. The new leadership is required to revitalize the organization, create vision, and bring forth a new image of the public management and leadership in the country. Ideally, public administration is owed the task of creating a bridge between politics and the society through service provision and offering the necessary support. Bulgaria’s public administration faced myriad challenges that resulted from politicizing and lack of unity in the administrative operations (Hart, 2014). However, the implementation of public reforms in the sector led to the gradual development of the system. Most countries in the Central and East Europe have embraced transformation in the management and leadership of public administration as the core factor in changing public governance.
Increased emphasis on management and leadership reforms emanates from the lack of effective and efficient public systems. Public administration systems form a vital element in the determination of the governance systems developed in a country. In the early 1990s, Bulgaria faced economic and political hurdles in the administrative systems that manifested in lower economic growth. Economic underperformance and lack of democracy in the government precipitated transformations in the public system (Jamil, Askvik, & Hossain, 2015). Increased public awareness of the correlation between weak public administration systems and slowed economic growth accelerated the demand for necessary administrative reforms.
Governance and management of public resources requires a broad participation of the society and state authority representatives. Society input in decision making and implementation of regulations is crucial in a democratic system of government. Good governance system is formed from a combination of effective and democratic governance. The principles of good governance include openness, accountability, participation, coherence, and effectiveness. Bulgaria lagged behind with weak public administration structure because it lacked the rudimentary principles of a good administration system.
The transformation of management and leadership organizational aspects in Bulgaria requires a well-planned strategy, structure, and new vision. There are some elements of skills that are important for the success of an organization in the traditional management system. Nevertheless, these skills are not adequate to bring forth the necessary organizational changes. Leadership is the most critical natural resource required for the public administration transformations in Bulgaria. The organizational iceberg tries to explain the correlation between public management and leadership (Liebert, Condrey, & Gonch, 2010). Public management, in public administration setup, is the influence of public organization in achieving public goals and objectives. It entails the organization’s vision, mission, objectives, strategies, policies, and structure. On the other, public leadership focuses on the administrative personnel or public servants in accomplishing the same organizational goals. Its features comprise of education, qualifications, skill set, experience and the relevant leadership qualities.
The Bulgaria administrative system is strategically structured to form a vision of the entire administrative reforms. The reform process in the public administration commenced in 1998 in the midst of mixed political ideologies about the integration of Bulgaria into the European Union (EU) and NATO. The integration of Bulgaria into the EU was significant in the achievement of the desired administrative, political and economic stability (Khan, 2008). One of the requirements for joining the EU was to structure the administration and its management in agreement with the EU principles and guidelines. In 2002, a strategy of modernization of the public administration was implemented followed by an anticorruption strategy to ensure ethics and professionalism in the public service. Additionally, the government introduced the strategy that aimed at offering training and development programs to the public servants to enhance skills and develop the capacity (Khan, 2008). Various measures and policies were implemented in strengthening the administration and in fulfilling the EU requirements.
Findings
Some of the areas in the management and leadership realm of the Bulgaria administrative system that required immediate concern were about corruption, justice system, and the financial control. Modernizing the system was a priority for the government to ensure full compliance with the Lisbon strategy. Management of the administration was enhanced by the introduction of information technology and the implementation of a couple of programs and projects. Changes and development in the social and technological arena were embraced and adapted in the administration system. One of the major hurdles that faced the administration of Bulgaria was the issue of corruption in the governance. The principle of accountability, transparency, and integrity were endorsed in the public servants activities to counteract corruption vice.
The amount of progress that Bulgaria has made in ensuring effectiveness and efficiency administration system has been enormous. However, some weaknesses and challenges in the judicial capacity and administration have hindered Bulgaria in having entire benefits of EU aid. Currently, the Bulgarian administration is faced with high staff turn off, and low remuneration packages are increasing the chances of corruption. The lack of accountability and transparency in the public procurement procedures has pulled the administration into a grave problem. Corruption cases have also been on the rise in connection with appointments of public servants in management positions. The state needs to intervene by implementing laws that eliminate conflicts of interest and corruption in the system. In spite of government having institutionalized procedures and regulation entities, sufficient results are yet to be seen.
Conclusion
Based on the research findings, it is evident that Bulgaria still faces grave problems in the public and administration system. The reforms carried out by the state in conforming to the EU regulations have not given the desired results. The management and leadership of public offices has challenged by weak judicial policies in fighting corruption within the government. However, there has been considerable effort in achieving a modern public administration and well-functioning system. The deep-rooted problems mentioned above require a collaborative effort of the authorities and community to wash out these vices in the management of public offices. Bulgaria needs rudimentary improvements, and reforms in strengthening the judicial administrative capacity and the entire system.
The government capacity in settling these challenges is crucial and the state needs to take precedence on these matters to ensure a conducive atmosphere in the administration system. Modernizing the administration requires enhanced knowledge and proficiency of public servants in applying the new management strategies. Information technology ought to be integrated in the administrative practice to provide efficiency in the provision public services. Public management structure and organization has to be revamped to adapt and adjust to the needs of the society. On the other hand, a flat type of organizational structure within the administration departments would facilitate and increase public participation in governance. Emphasis on transparency and accountability is important in the government processes. Integrity and ethics in the administrative system ought to be enhanced through public access to information via relevant media. The achievement of these strategies will propel public governance in a progressive direction in accomplishing the desired goals and objectives.
References
Hart, P. (2014). Understanding Public Leadership. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Jamil, I., Askvik, S., & Hossain, F. (2015). Administrative Culture in Developing and Transitional Countries. New York: Routledge.
Khan, H. A. (2008). An Introduction to Public Administration. New York: University Press of America.
Liebert, S., Condrey, S. E., & Gonch, D. (2010). Public Administration in Post-Communist Countries: Former Soviet Union. New York: Taylor & Francis Group.
